Physical Development in Newborns

Definition

Physical development in newborns refers to the progression of motor skills, including movement and coordination, as well as growth in size and weight.

Analogy

Think of physical development like a video game character leveling up. Just as characters gain new abilities and become stronger over time, newborns gradually develop control over their bodies, growing larger and more coordinated.

Related terms

Gross Motor Skills: These are the abilities required to control the large muscles of the body for walking, running, sitting, crawling, and other activities.

Fine Motor Skills: These involve smaller movements that occur in the wrists, hands, fingers, feet and toes. They also relate to eye-hand coordination skills such as playing with toys or writing with a pencil.

Milestones: These are significant stages of physical development that most children reach by certain ages (e.g., rolling over by 6 months).